This famous fly was designed to imitate large dark stonefly nymphs of North America. It was first tied by Lew Oatman of New York. The stonefly nymph essentially lives in fast flowing freestone rivers. This style of nymph has a large two-tone thorax. It is really simple to tie and it only requires tw View more...This famous fly was designed to imitate large dark stonefly nymphs of North America. It was first tied by Lew Oatman of New York. The stonefly nymph essentially lives in fast flowing freestone rivers. This style of nymph has a large two-tone thorax. It is really simple to tie and it only requires two materials.I remember that, over 15 years ago, a friend of mine was fishing at the Aluminé River, he could not catch a trout or even understand why. After trying almost every pattern from the box, he decided to try a Montana stonefly; in his first cast he got a beautiful brown trout. He tried a couple more casts and caught another nice brown.Obviously, this story doesn’t mean this fly always pays well, some days it fishes well due to certain conditions and other days it just doesn’t work. But that´s what fishing is about, it would be really boring to have a fly that always catches fish.Regular Chenille is used to make the original Montana; but, personally, I prefer using Vernille to shape the abdomen and wingcase.
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List of materials
MATERIALSHook: Mustad 9671 or similar, sizes #10 to #16 (micro chenille is recommended for the smallest ones).Thread: 6/0 or 8/0, black.Tail: black rooster feather fibers.Abdomen: black Vernille.Thorax: yellow Chenille, medium.Wingcase: black Vernille, double.Legs: Palmered black rooster feather.
Steps
Step 1
Tie some black rooster feather fibers to make the tail.
Step 2
Tie a piece of black Vernille right at the base of the tail.
Step 3
Wrap the black Vernille to cover approximately 60% of the hook shank. Make sure it´s tight, and then cut.
Step 4
Tie the double Vernille where the thorax will be, right until it reaches the abdomen.
Step 5
Tie the yellow Chenille and the black rooster feather. Both of them should also be right beside the abdomen.
Step 6
Wrap the yellow Chenille almost until it gets to the hook eye to shape the thorax.
Step 7
Wrap the black rooster feather over the yellow Chenille, in a Palmer way. Set this tight, right next to the hook eye as well.
Step 8
Take the two Vernille strips to the front of the fly and tie them, simultaneously, at the hook eye. This will shape the wingcase. Cut the remaining parts, whip finish and cemment.
